40 Leader's Way Fellows Gather at Berkeley Divinity School at Yale for a week of Restoration and Innovation

Highlights of the week included music by Theodicy Jazz Collective as well as preaching by Bishop Mary Glasspool, Bishop William Barber, Dean Yejide Peters Pietersen, and Dr. Westina Matthews. When asked about their favorite part of the week, fellows reported that our times of corporate worship were lifegiving and would stay with them for a long time.

Fellows learned from Yale professors Carolyn Sharp, Miroslav Volf, and Jerry Streets. They also learned about faithful innovation, a focus of The Leader’s Way program, from the Rev’d Dr. Dwight Zscheile and the Rev’d Canon Blair Pogue. 

In a letter to leaders in her diocese, Bishop Mary Glasspool wrote, “As with many intense experiences (and the week is not over yet), it will take some time to unpack and process all that has happened here. Even so, let me share some nuggets of wisdom that have been offered. In his opening remarks, Brandon Nappi, who is the Executive Director of Leadership Programs at Yale Divinity School, used the word generative in such a way as to replace the word sustainable. That word opened to me a path of creativity—co-creating with God, so to speak, that moves me beyond simply keeping things going the way they are.”

In addition to worshipping and learning, fellows enjoyed some of the riches Yale has to offer: A few brave souls climbed Harkness Tower to see the Carillon played. They also encountered parts of our spiritual heritage at the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library in an exhibit curated specifically for The Leader’s Way. The exhibit spanned three rooms and included holdings such as early Biblical fragments, the Gutenberg Bible, a 16th century Book of Common Prayer, an Early American Book of Common Prayer, Jonathan Edwards’ manuscripts, Thomas Merton’s letters, an early printing of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and American civil rights documents.

One fellow, Maria Hartz, reflected on the week, saying, “The Leader’s Way was incredibly transformational and inspirational for my role as a ministry leader. I feel excited to return to my congregation equipped with new knowledge, skills, and relationships that can help us start a program in our parish that will allow us to explore deeper who God is calling us to be.”

Another fellow, the Rev’d Dr. Joshua R. Paszkiewicz, described the program like this: “The Leader’s Way Fellowship is an immersive experience of learning, growth, discernment, and collegiality that is both inspirational and energizing. Interfacing with world class scholars, and dedicated clergy people, in the immersive context of an historic university sets the stage for the Holy Spirit to move in overt and subtle ways, propelling innovation and rejuvenation in varied ministry contexts.    

Now, the 2024-2025 fellows embark on the online, cohort-based portion of their learning. This will include workshops such as “Leading Adaptively through Your Innovative Project” with the Rev’d Clara King, “The Power of Vulnerability for Ministry” with the Rev’d Dr. Hillary Raining, “Conflict Transformation” with former hostage negotiator Ryan Dunlap, and “Soul Care: Practical, Evidence-Based Practices for Clergy and Lay Leaders” with Duke Professor Rae Jean Proeschold-Bell. A focus of the online portion of the program is fellows’ development of their innovative ministry projects, where they will take their learnings from the program and discern how they can implement them in their parish or community. 

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Applications to be a 2025-2026 Leader’s Way Fellow will open on October 1. Please contact Dr. Brandon Nappi at brandon.nappi@yale.edu with questions or expressions of interest.